Category: Education

FREE CLPL from Fair Access at RCS in March & April 2025

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

 Recharge Your Creative   Practice: CLPL Workshops for   Expressive Arts Secondary   Teachers 

 Energise your teaching with our spring series of free workshops led by professional practitioners

Two adults sitting at a desk designing

A man and woman working together designing a prop

Tuesday 29 April 4.30 – 6.30pm
Practical Prop Making led by Merlin Currie, RCS Props Tutor 

Join us to create a handheld prop for performance, using a practical step-by-step approach. Find out how to create simple but effective props and the best materials to have in your store cupboard. 

 

 

Two people working together at a piano

 

Tuesday 6 May 4 – 6.30pm
Ways into Composition led by Tom W. Green, RCS Lecturer in Composition  

Explore a range of compositional techniques including creative strategies for composing with pupils who have limited musical literacy, using digital and non-digital aids. 

 

 

 

A young person holding drum sticks

 

Wednesday 14 May 4.30 – 6.30pm
Accessible Music Making for BGE Learners led by Stephen Henderson, Drummer, Composer, Band leader and Educator 

Develop tools to build pupils’ confidence and musicality, without them needing to read music. Explore rhythm activities, games, simple melodies and improvisation to make BGE music lessons more engaging.

 

 

Two people standing at lighting desk in a theatre

 

Monday 19 May 4.30 – 5.45pm
Get to Know Your Lighting Desk led by Paige MacGillivray, RCS Lighting Production Student 

For teachers who have the FLX S24 desk and want a better understanding of it. Led by an RCS Lighting student, who can give an insight into BA Production Technology. 

 

 

A woman pointing with her fingers

 

Tuesday 27 May 4.30 – 6.30pm
Devising Towards Performance led by Robbie Gordon, Theatre Maker and Creative Engagement Specialist

Explore the devising and writing techniques Wonder Fools use to tell authentic stories with communities. Delve into practical ways of shaping narrative and performance and leave with tools to support your pupils’ creativity. 

 

 

Book Now button

Please Note: Fair Access prioritises those facing barriers in accessing the arts. Such as those who:

  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode 
  • are care experienced 
  • are estranged and receive no support from family or carers
  • live in an SIMD1 Postcode or SIMD2 Postcode and belong to one of the following groups:
    • living rurally with poor transport links
    • Black, Indigenous or People of Colour 
    • D/deaf or Hard of Hearing

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

For this reason, our CLPL sessions prioritise places for teachers whose schools have a high percentage of SIMD1 postcodes within their catchment area.

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities please get in touch with us at: fairaccess@rcs.ac.uk

Taster Mornings

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Taster Mornings 

For Music Teaching, Production or Acting

Are your pupils interested in studying Music Teaching, Production or Acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland? Teachers can sign up now for you and up to three of your pupils to attend our taster morning.

These sessions will focus on providing information about the degree programmes here at RCS. They will be a great opportunity to:

  • Find out about the programmes from those who teach it
  • Get involved with interactive workshops
  • See inside RCS and get a feel for what it could be like to study here
  • Meet the Fair Access Team and learn what support we can offer you and your pupils

All sessions are taking place at RCS in the Renfrew Street building taking place from 9:30am until 12:30pm. Choose below from the sessions you’d like to attend:

 

 Who Can Take Part 

WACI is funded to support young people who face barriers in accessing the arts. You are welcome to book up to 3 pupils on this session who meet the following criteria:

Get in touch if you have any issues with filling out any of the forms.

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities please get in touch with us at: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Audition and Interview Prep

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Audition and Interview Prep 

For those applying to study the performing or production arts

WACI are delighted to be offering a suite of Audition and Interview Prep sessions. These sessions will help you prepare for your interviews and auditions, help build confidence and offer tips and advice specific to your discipline.

These workshops are for those who are thinking about applying to study at a college, university or conservatoire in one of the following areas:

Acting or Musical Theatre
(Monologue Prep, 1:1 Sessions)
When: Dates between 29 October – 14 November
Times: 6pm or 7:15pm
Where: Online

Deadline to apply: Tuesday 22 October

Music Teaching
(BEd, Bachelor of Education in Music)
When: 5 & 7 November, 6:30pm – 8pm
Where: Online

Deadline to apply: 4 November

Filmmaking & TV
When: 12 & 14 November, 5pm – 7pm
Where: Online

Deadline to apply: 11 November

Production Arts or Technology
When: 19 & 21 November, 5pm – 7pm
Where: Online

Deadline to apply: 18 November

 Who Can Take Part 

WACI prioritise those facing barriers in accessing the arts such as those who are:

Get in touch and we can check your postcode for you. 

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about these activities please get in touch with us at: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Music Technology for the Faint Hearted

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Music Technology for the Faint Hearted 

CLPL for Music Teachers

A row of music teachers sitting at DAW stations

Alan Fraser from the BEd programme led a Career Long Professional Development Learning session on music technology, aimed at music teachers wanting to brush up their skills. Fourteen teachers joined us from Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire, West Lothian, East Dunbartonshire, North Ayrshire, West Dunbartonshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

The session explored practical, hands-on shortcuts in the use of GarageBand, with one participant saying afterwards:

‘I can see how I would use this material in Broad General Education to ‘spark’ creativity in initial exposure to composition. It was a great course. Well presented, really interesting, supportive and inspiring – Thank you!!!’ 

Heather McMillan, Head of the Bachelor of Education (Music) course, joined us, as did Clare Hibberd, lecturer in Sound from our Production degree programme. Fair Access shouted out about our BEd Bridging programme! 

 Find Out More About Music Teaching Opportunities 

If you would like to study to become a music teacher or are a music teacher and interested in future CLPL opportunities, sign up for our mailing list to be kept up to date. You can also email and speak with the team on: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Bachelor of Education (Music) Taster Morning

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Bachelor of Education (Music) 

 Taster Morning 

Monday 11 December, 9:30am – 1pm

Are your pupils interested in studying Music Teaching at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland?

Sign up now for you and up to three of your pupils to attend our taster morning. Taking place here at RCS, it will focus on providing information for the Bachelor of Education (Music) Degree. 

This morning will be a great opportunity to:

  • Find out about our BEd Music programme from the people who teach it
  • Try your hand at an introduction to music studies session
  • See inside RCS and get a feel for what it could be like to study here
  • Get up close with the instruments and resources available at RCS
  • Meet the Fair Access Team and learn what support we can offer you and your pupils

* Applications now closed *

Sign Up Deadline: 8 December, 12 noon

Fair Access is funded to support young people who face barriers in accessing the arts. You are welcome to book up to three of your pupils on this session who meet the following criteria:

Get in touch if you have any questions or need us to check a postcode for you.

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions or have any issues with filling out the form, please get in touch at: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Bachelor of Education (Music) Interview Prep

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Bachelor of Education (Music) 

 Interview Prep 

15 & 22 November 2023

Young woman pointing at a music score

If you’re in the process, or thinking about applying to study music teaching at a college, university or conservatoire, join us for our BEd Interview Prep workshops.

Our BEd Interview Prep Sessions will be a great opportunity for you to:

  • Receive tips on interviewing
  • Learn more about the interview experience
  • Build your confidence
  • Learn more about studying BEd Music

Participants will require access to a keyboard for the sessions. Please do let us know if this will not be possible, and we will look into ways of supporting you in being able to access a keyboard or piano. 

When: 15 & 22 November, 5 – 7pm
Where: Online

Booking Deadline: Fri 10 Nov, 12noon

Please note: WACI will prioritise those facing barriers to accessing the arts such as those:

Get in touch and we can check your postcode for you. 

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions about this activity, please email: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Recharge Your Theatre Practice, Season Two!

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Recharge Your Theatre Practice 

Career Long Professional Learning for

N5, Higher and Advanced Higher Teachers

A woman on stage in costume, reading from an old blotted bit of paper

Build your skills in Directing Monologues for Auditions and Practical Lighting. Join us at RCS and All Saints Secondary School Glasgow for workshops to refresh your creative practice and share new ways of working!

* Applications now closed *

Directing Monologues and Audition Techniques

Practical Lighting Skills
When: Wednesday 10 May, 4 – 6pm
Where: RCS, Wallace Studios		 When: Thursday 18 May, 4 – 6pm
Where: All Saints Secondary School
Led by: Liz Carruthers, Director

Find out what a typical drama school audition process looks like from Liz Carruthers, who sits regularly on audition panels for the RCS, both in Scotland and internationally. Discover how you can best prepare your pupils or students, including choosing and working on suitable monologues, responding well to re-direction in the audition and being best prepared for the interview.  Liz will also discuss managing auditionee expectations and having a good plan B if not successful the first time, which is very common! 

 Led by: Christoph Wagner, Lecturer in Lighting RCS 

Explore what makes an effective lighting design and how to achieve this with equipment typically found in a secondary school drama studio. This hands-on session will also look at how to use lights and equipment correctly. Using short scenes as stimulus, we’ll consider how to light key moments and document this with plans, notes and cue sheets. With lots of opportunities for questions, to troubleshoot challenges with teaching lighting in school, and sharing solutions.

‘Super helpful and I have lots of ideas to take back to school! Thank you’ 

‘Really inspiring and enjoyable – I wish we had more opportunities like this’

 Contact Us 

If you have any questions or queries, get in touch with the team on: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

BEd Music Bridging Programme 2023

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 So You Want To Be A Music Teacher? 

Join our BEd Music Bringing Programme, starting this September!

Young woman with violin pointing to a class powerpoint

Are you interested in studying music teaching at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland? This Fair Access BEd Bridging Programme here at RCS aims to enhance the educational context of music teaching and get you ready to apply.

The Bridging Programme is a great opportunity to:

  • explore the skills and qualities of a good teacher
  • learn about educational policy and the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE)
  • develop vocal leadership skills 
  • be offered optional activities such as piano accompaniment, music technology or composition
  • receive your music tuition from the RCS Junior Conservatoire

In addition, you’ll gain valuable experience before applying for the BEd and meet like-minded peers.

This free course is aimed at those aged 16+, who are either:

* Applications now closed *

Contact Us

If you would like to find out more or discuss any queries you may have, contact the team on: fairacccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Come and Try Festival 2023

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Come & Try Festival 2023 

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 4 April – 12 April

A group of young people posing in their disciplines

Widening Access to the Creative Industries (WACI) is delighted to announce that applications for our Come and Try Festival are now open!

* Applications now closed *

Whether you’ve got loads of experience already or you want to try something for the first time, the Come and Try Festival is for you! It’s a great way to get your creativity flowing, work with experienced artists and meet other people with the same interests as you.

Throughout the Easter holidays the festival takes place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – and best of all, it’s all free to attend! 

Festival Programme:

Set the Scene &
A Taste of Shakespeare
Tuesday 4 April, 10am-5pm

Explore Your Artform
Wednesday 5 April, 10am-4pm

Woodwind Performance Techniques
Thursday 6 April, 10am-4pm

Let’s Get Technical
Friday 7 April, 10am-4pm

Let’s Get Acting
Tuesday 11 April, 10am-4pm

Storytelling Through Sound and Screen
Wednesday 12 April, 10am-4pm

Who is it for?

The festival is open to all secondary school-age pupils. Priority places will be given to pupils who:  

  • attend a FOCUS West School  
  • live in an SiMD1 postcode  
  • Care Experienced or Estranged  
  • Black, Indigenous, or a Person Of Colour 
  • Seeking Asylum or Refugee  

The festival is also open to: Transitions students, Aspire North Students, Leaps Students, Lift Off Students 

Contact Us

If you require any information or have any questions about any of our activities and events, contact the team at: waci@rcs.ac.uk

So You Want To Be A Music Teacher?

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 So You Want To Be A Music Teacher? 

Open Evening for Young People and Info Sessions for Teachers

Young woman pointing to sheet music next to a student saying 'So you want to be a music teachers'?

Fair Access is excited to announce two new sessions for those looking for more information about the training that is available to those interested in music teaching:

BEd (Music) Online Open Evening for Young People

Where: Online
When: Tue 28 March
Time: 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Want to find out what it would be like to study music teaching? This online open evening is a great opportunity to:

  • find out about our BEd (Music) programme from the people who teach it
  • interact with other young people interested in music
  • meet some of the current students and ask them all your questions
  • find out how Fair Access can support you in applying and studying at RCS

BEd (Music) In-Person Information Session for Music teachers

Where: City Halls, Glasgow
When: Mon 22 May
Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm

Join us as Mairi Warren, Music teacher and lecturer on the BEd programme, talks about how RCS and Fair Access build the music teachers of tomorrow! In this session you can hear about:

  • what your pupils can be doing now to get ready to apply
  • how Fair Access can support eligible pupils via our free Bridging Programme
  • hear from current students on the BEd

* Applications now closed *

 Get In Touch 

If you have any questions or queries, email: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk